Time lock mechanism



Oct. 12, 1957.

w. T. BENHAM TIME LOCK MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Walk-m T Ben/2am Get. 12, 1937.

w. T. BENHAM TIME LOCK MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1936 3 Sheets-SheetZ REF mm TBe/z/mm Oct. 12, 1937. w. T. BENHAM TIME LOCK MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

IlzY/z'am Tbmfiam ATTORNEYS Patented Oct.12, 1937 v a l UNITED STATES ATENT' OFFICE TIME LOCK MECHANISM William T. Benham, Norwood, Ohio, ,assignor to The Mosler Lock Company, Covington, Ky., a corporation of Ohio Application April 9, 193 Serial No. 73,507

13 Claims. (01. 70-269) This invention relates to a time lock mechashowing the time lock operatively mounted upon nism and has for its object the provision of a a money chest or safe. compact and relatively small unit which is some- Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the time what less expensive to manufacture than heretolock with its cover door in open position and fore used structures and which, because of its showing the device in a locked position with the 5 size is also adaptable to use on cashiers money bolt check and time release cam in an operative chests or safes, and in similar chests or safes in position, one of the timing mechanisms being other establishments wherein it is desirable to removed.

place such chest under the control of time lock Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a slide forming for an'extended period such as a night season part of the invention. 10 or holiday season, and in which daylight protec- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the entire bolt tion under the identical mechanism may be had check mechanism in dismantled and separated for pre-arranged short periods in order to foil relation.

daylight bandits. Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Fig.3. \j Another object is to provide a device which Fig. '7 is a View taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3. 15

comprises but a single knob or handle, a quarter Fig. 8 isa fragmental front elevational view of turn of which will serve, when necessary or dethe device of Fig. 3 with the device in an unlocked sired, to shoot the bolt, set the daylight protecposition with the bolt withdrawn. 7 tion cam and check, wind the timing mechanism Fig. 9 is a fragmental detail showing the slide and stop the timing mechanism so that the chest mechanism of Fig. 'W th an indicator plate at- 20 or safe is indefinitely locked until the knob or tached.

handle is turned in the opposite direction to start Fig. 10 is a fragmental front elevational view the mechanism on its predetermined short peshowing a modified form of bolt check and time riod operation. release cam mechanism arranged for automatic 5 Another object is to provide a device of this relocking, the bolt check being further shown in 5 kind wherein the short'period daylightprotecdotted lines in the locked position assumed tion intervalmay be varied, the adjustment bethereby W e t e'han e ember has been subing simple and recorded upon a normally consequently operated. cealed indicator within the time lock casing. Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 10 showing the same Another object of the invention is to provide a device arranged so that it does not automatically 30 modified form of the aforestated invention relock. wherein it is possible to selectively provide for 12 s a perspective w Showing e odautomatic relocking of the lock after a predefi d 01t Check, guideand ol pl and r termined short period following the daylight, lease cam used in the structure shown in Figs.

protection interval to avoid accidentally leaving 10 and 11. 35 a safe unlocked. Heretofore' time locks have been used employ- Another object is to provide a, bolt check ing delicate watch movements to actuate the momechanism including a lost motion piece or tive means for throwing bolts or intermediate vmember cooperating with a spring and d tent mechanisms. Such time locks have been very 40 member on its one side and with a timed release e iv f r ir p p but usually r q r 40 cam on the other side so that it is impossible for either an additional manual or motor driven the bolt check to bind or hang after release and m ha m t a y unlock the Safe door y it is also impossible to transmit any movement throwing t F q y C mbination or rough usage of the bolt operating knob or look is found employed on structures so pro- 4.5 handle through the check mechanism to the tected, and it is to be understood that a combi- 4.5 timed release cam. nation lock may also be used as an auxiliary to These and other objects are attained by the the present device if desired. It will be undermeans described herein and disclosed in the ac stood then that while the present invention uticompanying drawings, in which: lizes a case or housing which is as small as, if

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational View of a time lock not smaller than, the usual time lock, it con- 50 of the invention attached to the safe door, part tains nevertheless, the complete mechanism and being broken away and showing in full and dotted control necessary for operation of a door of 2. lines the various positions of the bolt slide opersafe or a money chest and provides not only the ating arm or cam. relatively long periods of locked condition under Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 the control of the watch mechanism, but is also .55

adapted upon the mere movement through a quarter turn of the single knob to throw the bolt, wind the time mechanism in accordance with the predetermined adjustment so that the safe or money chest is under the so-called daylight protection indefinitely or until the mechanism is again conditioned to allow the watch mechanism to operate for the predetermined short period to effect unlocking of the safe or chest.

Referring now to the drawings the lock case or casing i2 is provided upon its rear with integral tubular bushings l3 through which lag bolts l4 extend from the interior of the casing l2 into the rear of the door I5 of the money chest or safe to which it is attached. These bushings I3 provide a space 55 wherein a lock bolt or slide plate i? may reciprocate under the control of the single knob 58 and its attached bolt throwing arm M. The arm 59 like plate I! operates exteriorly of the casing l2, being disposed in a substantially rectangular aperture 28 in said plate H. The plate ill is cut away to reduce the thickness as at notches El, 22, 23, and 2d, and is retained for reciprocable movement and is limited in said movement by the overhanging heads 25 of screws such as 25 which are entered into the rear wall 2i of the casing 12. A springpressed detent 28 has a roller 29 on the end thereof which seats in a notch 38 in the top of the lock bolt or slide plate i? when the bolt is thrown to a locked position. A relatively shallow notch 3! receives the roller 29 when the plate I! is in a retracted position. The purpose of the first-mentioned notch til is to hold lock pin 32 carried by an oifset extension 33 of plate I! normally in such a position that it will not bind upon the bolt check mechanism when the time lock is set. This feature will be explained later in greater detail.

From th foregoing it will readily be appreciated that a pin 3 in that part of the plate I! which is at all times extending without the body lines of the casing l2 may be inserted in the safe bolt SE'which actually looks the safe or chest door [5 in the frame or side wall 36 of the safe or chest. The knob i8 carries an arbor 31 upon which arm I9 is mounted and which also extends through an aperture 38 in the rear wall 2! of the casing. The arm also carries on one face a drilled boss 39 which serves as a journal for the arbor 37. The reduced end M] of this arbor is developed into an angular cross section and is secured in the hub M of a lifting finger or look control lever The hub ll is journalled in a table or frame 33 which is mounted between pairs of springs 44 and 44 3 upon studs 66 within the casing in order to render the entire mechanism proof against shock as in violently closing the safe door or from sledge blows and the like. Table 43 is arranged to carry a plurality of receptacles MD in side by side relation and these receptacles house the delicate watch movements and which carry the dials 450. It is to be noted that but one of these is shown in the drawings, the other (not shown) being removed for the purpose of disclosing the interior of the casing. The mounting of the table and of the plurality of receptacles is more fully disclosed in the patent to Benham 1,205,147 of March 21, 1916.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the knob or handle is may be rotated through 90 degrees to the opposite limits of reciprocation of slide plate H which is provided by pin 41 operating in slot 68 in the plate 11. These limits are also defined by the seating of roller 29 in notches 3i] and 3i. These limits are further defined by a stud 39 in the lock control lever #2 operating in a slot in control lever link 5! which is secured to a control lever eccentric 52 which is journalled in the table 53. A springpressed pin 53!! operating in a notch in lifting finger 42 tends to retain the lifting finger or lock control lever in its raised position after being moved by the knob. This in turn holds "the eccentric 52 in one of its extreme positions.

Control lever eccentric 52 is cut away at 53 to clear the winding lever of the second receptacle or time mechanism (removed and not shown) which is identical and interchangeable with the receptacle Mil shown at the left of Figs. 3 and 8 wherein a clearance recess 54 is shown with the end of winding lever 55 movable therein. Journalled in the table 43 adjacent the control lever eccentric 52 is an automatic check eccentric 56 carrying an automatic check can 57 and yieldably urged by spring 58 toward the bolt check mechanism shown at the right hand side of Figs. 3 and 8.

Reciprocably mounted on the front of table 63 by means of screw 59 is a lock slide 58 (see Fig. 4) which has the limit slot 69 through which screw 59 passes. The end 62 of lock slide 86' abuts the winding lever 55 at the left hand side of the device, while a shoulder 53 at the corresponding side of a notch Bil is adapted to engage a similar Q winding lever on the second of the receptacles i 1E2 (not shown). A finger 65 on eccentric 56 is normally pushed against lug $5 on the lock slide by the spring 58. It follows then that as the lock slide is pushed toward the right hand side (Figs. 3 and 8) by the action of the winding levers 55 which are actuated by the usual spring driven and time controlled mechanism in the receptacles 449, the check cam and eccentric are moved against the resistance of spring 58 and away from the bolt check. It will be noted that look slide 6E3 has a depending lug 67! having a threaded hole in which an adjusting stud is carried. The stud has a flat ended cylindrical head $9 with an annular indicating line 10 around it adapted to be set in registry with graduations II, on an indicator plate 72 carried by said lock slide. Anotched adjusting head 73 and a notched lock nut i l serve to turn and fix the head 69 relative to the lock slide and accurately adjust the amount of movement which can be imparted to the lock slide in a left hand direction by the eccentric 52 when it is actuated through link 5! upon turning of handle or knob l8. This movement of the lock slide in a left hand direction swings the winding levers 55 about their pivots at 75 so that the pin '56 on the rear of the dial ill will be engaged and turns the dial sufiiciently to wind the watch mechanism within the receptacle MB. The same movement of the lock slide removes lug 66 from the path of finger 65 and allows check cam 57 to move under the influence of its spring 58 toward the right and beneath the bolt check, which, as will be seen, is also lifted by lock control lever 62. The power spring and ratchet (not shown) which form part or" the time mechanism in receptacle 440 will thus be conditioned and the dial l1 turned to a degree directly proportionate to the amount of movement of the lock slide. The amount of movement of the lock slide by eccentric 52 depends entirely upon the adjustment screw 68. Winding lever 55 will allow the chronometer to be manually worked to any desired deree but the lock slide to remain at the limit as it is held by eccentric 52 so that the chrotime lug 66 will have moved finger fifisuflic iently spaced apart and preferably integral with the rioineter will be stopped be fore it isfully unwound. If eccentric 52 ismoved, the chronorneter will then proceed to move the look slide to ward its opposite limit; Thelug fifigthus stopsfingerBE in such positionthat checkcam is held beneath the bolt check which can there after drop instantaneously to inoperative position only afterthe lock slide 69'has-been returned toits initial position (see Fig. 8) by Winding lever (on levers) 55 under'the influence of the pin 16 as the dial returns to zero position, at which to Withdraw the check cam from the path of pin 32. i 1

The bolt check mechanism and its mounting constitute one of the novel improvements of the:

invention. A pairof guide bosses l8 and 19 non-binding instantaneous gravitational release whenever the influence of the automatic plunger (indicated generally as 86 in Fig; 5) is removed. This reduces wear that permitted premature opening in other locks and provides absolute security up to "the last minute- The plunger 86 constitutes the othertwo pieces of-the bolt check mechanism and comprises block 8'Iwith grooves 88jreceiving guide pins 8i and a depending finger 89 which rides in'guide groove 82' of the bracket 89 and terminatesin an arcuate cam face 999whi'ch rests on the arcuate face of cam check 51. A lostmotion member 90 is supported in normally elevated position on block 81 by a light spring 9| and screws 92 in slots 93. The bottom face 94 of bolt checknormally rests on the top face 95 of block 99. This resilient connection permits the parts 81 and 99 to be compressed together for a distance slightly greater than the diameter of pin. 32 when the parts together with bolt check 83 are lifted by lock control lever 42 and the slide plate I! and pin 32 are still in the retracted po sition ias in Fig. 8). This allows cam check 51 to move 'into position beneath finger 89(see Fig. 3).. The bolt throw.-

ing arm 19- then moves the slide plate ll out and withdraws pin 32 whereupon the compression on spring 9| is released to raise block 99 and carry bolt check 83. into operative position (see Fig. 3). It will be remembered that all of these movements which included actuation of the lock slide 99, raising of the bolt check mechanism and finally the actual throwing of the bolt by slide plate H were accomplished by a quarter turn of knob H3 in a clockwise direction (from the outside of the door or as viewed in Fig. 1). This movement'also wound the time mechanism in receptacles 44 9 if previously run down and stopped the watch movements W therein. If, however, the time mechanism had previously been wound to operate for an interval greater than the"daylight protection interval the watch movements will runfor the desired night protection interval minus the particular ,daylight protection interval and would then stop. Eccentric 52 would block movement of the lock slide 69 which would in turn prevent pin 16 on the dial from further moving thewinding lever 55. If now the knob I9 is turned in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from Fig. 1), the lifting finger 42 is removed from beneath automatic plunger 81 and eccentric 52 is retired from adjusting screw head 69 and the watch mechanism is free to run and push lock slide 69 toward the right hand side (see Figs. '3 and 8 and finger 65, actuated by said lock slide, will gradually retire the cam check 51 from beneath. finger 89 and at the end of said daylight pro tectionintervalallow the entire bolt check mechanism to drop instantaneously under the force of gravity. No gradual movement of the bolt check obtained and hence it would be impossible to force a premature opening as in many time locks heretofore in usel The knob 18 may now be turned further to retract the slide plate I! and with it the locking bolt 35 in the door H5. The. door may then be opened and closed at will by the attendant but'is always-ready upon a moments notice to be again locked for the daylight protection interval whenever it is desired or is deemed necessary. 7 A --As shown in Figs. 10 to '12 inclusive, a relae tively simple modification of the gravity' bolt check mechanism and its associated parts has been provided whereby the function of the lock heretofore described maybe attained in substan tially the same sequence and, whereby, in addition thereto, these same parts can be selectively utilized to effect the additional and ofttimes desirable function of automatically relocking the entire device if the lock is not actually opened 6 within a predetermined short time designated for the-purpose of enforcing careful attention by the operator and at the same time, automatically taking care of any negligence on the part of the operator. r a

As indicated, these modifications are relatively simple and they will now be described'and c'on-' currently compared with the previously described comparable elements so that the slightly different structure and the cooperation thereofmay be readily understood. g i

The gravity bolt check 99is in this modified form extended slightly higher than the corre-' sponding check 83 of Fig. 5. A bore.9l is pro-' vided in the extended part of bolt check 95 in lieu of the groove 84 of check ii3 A guide plate check 83. Plate 98 has two screw holes therein,

one adjacent each end and this plate is adaptable to reversible mounting by means of a single screw. A lug 99 on plate 98 is adapted, in one position of the plate to extend inwardly and to serve as a stop for limiting the detent of the gravity bolt check at a position wherein the bore 91 is in registry with the line of movement of lock pin 32. When thelug 99 is disposed as stated, the lock is adapted tofunction essentially as the hereinbefore described structure, e. g. after eitherthe combined long and short time or only the short time delay intervals have elapsed, the lock becomes conditioned for opening andso remains (see Fig, 11).

In this modified embodiment of the invention, the cam 5"? (previously described) and-which in the heretofore described embodiment served to effect the anti-bandit or daylight'protection delay interval does not affect movement of. the bolt check unless the device is conditioned by the simple operation of reversing plate 99 so that the lug 99 extends outwardly and out of the-path of the gravity bolt check 99, to thereby provide for the automatic relocking of the devicein th manner hereinafter to be' explained.

in a plane just in front of cam 51' and said cam Hill is actuated through the movement of a crank I02 by the lock slide 60 in order to release the gravity bolt check assembly at the end of the daylight protection interval.

As just indicated, the device when arranged as shown in Fig. 10 will effect automatic relocking of the device if the attendant fails to open the safe within a predetermined time after the daylight delay interval has elapsed.

As will be understood in connection with the earlier description of the device, the bolt check assembly is raised to its uppermost limit by the finger 42 and is held there by the delay cam and said finger until such time as the knob I8 is actuated to initiate the running of the daylight protection delay period. Thereafter, the delay cam supports the bolt check assembly until, at the expiration of the daylight protection delay interval, the lock slide 60 has removed the delay cam from beneath the bolt check assembly. The device as arranged in Fig. 11 would thus have the bolt check disposed, during the protection periods, in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. The running of the daylight protection interval would find cam Hit] supporting the bolt check assembly upon the face EM of the slightly modified finger Hi3 of the bolt check plunger. When cam IUD is moved until it no longer supports the bolt check plunger, the bolt check assembly drops until the cam 57 contacts the descending face 890 of the bolt check plunger assembly. At this time, the bore 91 in bolt check 95 is in registry with the lock pin 32 so that the safe may now be manipulated for opening. However, cam 51 will continue to support bolt check 96 in this position only for a predetermined short interval (e. g., 8 minutes), after which, upon continued movement of the cam 5i the lock slide 60 which is under the influence of the chronometer mechanism passes from beneath face 890 and allows the bolt check assembly to drop instantaneously and gravitationally to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10 where, it will be noted, that the bore 91 in bolt check 56 is again out of registry with the lock pin 32 so that the device has been automatically relocked for failure to throw the lock pin 32 during the said 8 minute opening interval.

The time lock described is adapted for adjustment to fulfill practically any requirement as to the specific period of protection and the manner in which it can be opened after the time protection period has passed. In the description of the operation of the device, it will be assumed that the time lock has had the daylight protection adjustment control set so that the annular mark 10 on head 69 is in registry with the 30 minute mark on plate i2 and that the watch movements have run down. It will be assumed also that the lock slide I! and lock pin 32 are in retracted position so that the safe door I5 is unlocked, but in a closed position. The parts are then in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 11.

To look the safe to which the device of the invention is attached, the handle i8 is turned clockwise. This movement swings finger 42 to the raised position shown in Fig. 3 and lifts the bolt check and plunger assembly compressing the spring 91 and urging the bolt check against the lock pin 32. ihe same movement swings lever 5| and causes the eccentric 52 to push on the end of the cylindrical head 69 which moves the lock slide 60 against the resistance of wind- A delay cam I fixed on a shaft I fll operates ing lever 55-. The winding levers 55 thus pushed serve to wind the power springs ofv the watch movements in receptacles 440 in proportion to the extent of movement of the lock slide. In this case, the adjustment was set for 30 minutes and the winding movement just referred to is sufficient to operate the watch movements for that length of time. In moving the lock slide 60 to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the cam check drops to a position below the now raised end of depending finger 89. Since eccentric lever 52 is held at the extreme position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the watch movements are precluded from operation because the levers 55 are blocked by the lock slide. The time movements are therefore stopped in wound position. The continued movement of. handle [8 in the same direction causes the arm l9 to move slide plate I! to its extreme outer position, thus withdrawing lock pin 32 and permitting the loaded spring 9| to raise the bolt check 83 to fully locked position.

So long as the handle I8 is left at the extreme position to which it has just been moved, the device remains locked definitely.

In order to open the lock, the handle I8 is turned in the opposite direction as far as it will go, i. e. about a quarter turn. By this movement, the finger 42 is retracted from its supporting position beneath the gravity plunger assembly 85 and the eccentric 52 is swung on its axis so that it no longer resists the pressure of the winding levers 55 on the lock slide 60. The cam check 51, however, remains beneath the finger 89 and as the release winding levers 55 now move slowly under the power of the time mechanisms, they push the lock slide 60 in the opposite direction and the shoulder or lug 66 on the lock slide correspondingly pushes the eccentric lever 65 which gradually removes the cam check 57 from beneath the finger 89. When the end of cam check 51 passes from beneath the extreme end of finger 89, the gravity plunger assembly and the bolt check drop, whereupon the time lock is in unlocking position, but the bolt 35, slide plate I! and pin 32 are still in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the safe door cannot be pulled open. To draw the bolt 35, the handle is turned further in the direction required to initiate the operation of. the time mechanism which causes finger l9 to push the slide plate I i and corresponding parts to the position shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the door may be opened. The operation just described is used during the day season as an anti-bandit protection which requires a necessary delay of 30 minutes between initiating the operation and the actual opening of the safe door. For night season protection, the timing mechanism in receptacles 440 are wound to run for the selected number of hours indicated by the hand or indicator member 45 with relation to the dial which was turned in the winding movement in known manner. With the time mechanism thus conditioned, the safe door may be closed and the handle l8 operated in the aforedescribed manner, so that the parts are all operated as previously described except that the winding levers 55 have already been moved beyond the influence of lock slide 60. Assuming that the handle lever [8 has been left in a position wherein finger 42 is beneath the gravitational bolt check assembly, the winding levers will return in a normal fashion under the influence of the timing mechanism until they abut shoulders 62 and 63 respectively of the lock slide 60. Since the lock slidefiifl. is still held against further movement by eccentric lever 52, the watch movements-now stop. The time required to reach this position will be the number of hours for which the time mechanism was wound minus the 30 minute delay interval to which the cylindrical head 69 had been set. To open the safe, the operator turns the knob to withdraw finger 42 and eccentric 52 from their blocking positions and then waits for the 30 minute interval to pass during which cam check is withdrawn from beneath the bolt check assembly. When the cam check has withdrawn and the bolt check has dropped, the locking bolt and plate il may be shifted to open the safe door;

In order to provide for the further advantage of selectively arranging for automatic re-locking of the deviceof the invention if the safe is not :open within a predetermined short interval e. g. '8 minutes after the bolt check has been automatically released, the structure illustrated in Figs. 10, l1 and 12 is utilized. With theplate 98 mounted with the lock 99 thereof disposed in- :wardly andinto the path of the gravity bolt check, the time lock of the invention when operated as previously described will automatically arrive at: unlocked position and remain so until the s'afe'is either opened or the mechanism is relocked by the operation of the handle l8.

When it is desired to provide for automatic relocking', the position of the plate 98 is reversed, so that the lock 99 extends outwardly and out of the path of the bolt check and thereby enables the finger, Hi3 (corresponding to finger 89 in the previously described mechanism) to rest upon the supplementary cam MB for the additional interval (e. g. 8 minutes) while the lock slide pushes the'pin of eccentric I02 until the supplemental cam Hill is also removed from beneath the finger This permits the bolt check 96 to further drop to a position wherein the bore 91'is below pin 32 andtherebyprecludes movement of plate (I I1 and the bolt until the device has been again conditioned by aproper operation of handle i 8 and the original daylight protection delay interval of 30 minutes has elapsed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the operation of. the device is simple and positive and that the releaseithereof is susceptible ofaccurate timing and certainty of operation. Since the device bears no external indicia to show how it has been conditioned, the protection against daylighVhold-up efforts isvery effective because it' is impossible for any person, authorized or unauthorized, to, open the safe earlier than the intended interval for which the device is adjusted. Furthermore, because the initiation of the opening delay interval is effected by the knob l8 which is the sole actuating device for the entire mechanism, one who is uninformed, and who wishes to operate the device by stealth or force,

ing having a vertical way therein, of a'slide plate comprising a lock pin for. movement into the way, a gravity checkmember in said way, means operable from the exterior of the casing to raise said gravity check member to a position precluding entry of thelock pin into the way, meansjto hold the gravity check member in said raised position, and means comprising chronometer mechanism .and -a lock slide movable thereby for releasing said holding means after a predetermined period of operation of said chronometer and lock slide.

2. In combination, a casing, an apertured slide plate mounted for limited reciprocation on the casing and adapted for connection with and control of a locking bolt, a knob actuated arbor extending into the casing, means on, the arbor and disposed in the aperture in the slide plate where- V by the slide plate is actuated, a lock pin on the slide plate adapted for movement into and out of the casing, said casing having a way therein across the path of said lock pin, a gravity bolt check member including a yieldable plunger guided for movement vertically in the way, detent means yieldably' urging the slide plate to a position wherein the lock pin is held in non-binding relation to the gravity bolt check and means including chronometer mechanism and means actuated thereby for retaining the gravity bolt check member in position precluding movement of the lock pin for predetermined time intervals, said bolt check being thereafter freed for instantaneous gravitational descent in the way and out of the path of said lock pin.

3. In a time lock, the' combination with a casing'supporting suitable chronom'eter mechanism, of a lock slide recipr'ocably mounted in the casing, means operative between the lock slide and chrono meter mechanism whereby the lock slide,

when moved in one direction, effects winding of rocably mounted slide plate means including a lock pin for entry into the casing, a gravity check member vertically adjustable in the casing to positions ,permitting 'and precluding movement of the lock pinfmea ns manually operable to effect lifting of the gravitycheck member'and winding movement'of the lock slide, and earn means adapted tohold "the gravity check member in elevated position and further adapted for movement by the lock slidefor timed release of the gravity check member to a position wherein the lock pin is operable. I I

4. In a time lock, the-combination with a casing supporting suitable chronometer mech'anismfl of a lock slide reciprocably mounted in the casing, means operative between said lock slide and said'chronometer mechanism whereby. the lock slide when moved in one direction, eflects winding of the chronorneter mechanism, and whereby operation of the wound chronometer mechanism efiects timed return movement of the lock slide, reciprocably mounted slide plate means including a lock pin for entry into the casing, a gravity check member vertically adjustable in the casing to positions permitting and precluding movement of the lock pin, means manually operable to effect lifting of the gravity'checkmember and winding movement to said lock slide, cam means adapted to holdthe gravity check member in raised position, said cam means being movable by'the lock slide for timed release of the gravity check member for permitting operation of the lock pin, and additional cam means controlled by the lock slide for holding the gravity check member in the last mentioned position,'said additional cam means being movable,,on continued movement of the lock slide, to' a position wherein the gravity check member is released for further descent to a position wherein the lock pin is again precluded from operation.

5. In a time lock mechanism the combination of a casing adapted for mounting on a structure to be protected, a slide plate reciprocably mounted on said casing for connection with a bolt, chronometer mechanism in the casing, a lock slide in the casing movable in one direction by said chronometer mechanism, manually operable means for moving the slide plate and for effecting movement of the lock slide in a reverse direction whereby the chronometer mechanism is wound, a gravity check member to preclude operation of the slide plate, and means supporting the gravity check member in such position and movable by the lock slide under the influence of the chronometer mechanism for effecting timed gravitational release of the gravity check member.

6. In combination a casing adapted for mounting on the door of a structure to be protected, a locking bolt for said door, a slide plate on the casing for actuating the locking bolt, said slide plate being apertured, an arbor extending through the door and into the casing, means on the arbor and disposed in the aperture in the slide plate whereby turning of the arbor may effect movement of the slide plate, time lock mechanism within the casing including a chronometer, a lock slide mutually operable one with the other and a gravity check member controlling operation of the slide plate and under control of the lock slide and means operable by movement of the arbor in one direction for simultaneously moving the slide plate, shifting the lock slide whereby the chronometer is wound, raising the gravity check member and stopping the chronometer, movement of the arbor in the opposite direction serving to start operation of the chronometer and release the gravity check to the control of the lock slide for timed delay release upon predetermined operation of the chronometer.

' '7. In a time lock the combination of a casing having a vertical way therein and a perforation communicating with the way, a slide plate having a pin therein movable into said way upon movement of the plate, said plate being adapted to control a door bolt, a gravity check member freely movable in said way, a manually operable arbor, means on the arbor to move the slide plate, means on the arbor to lift the gravity check member to a position precluding movement of the pin and slide plate, a chronometer, a lock slide movable in one direction to wind the chronometer, an eccentric mechanism including a slotted link whereby movement of the said lifting means effects movement of the lock slide, said lifting means in raised position arresting operation of the chronometer after winding it, a plunger supporting the gravity check member and having an arcuate faced finger depending therefrom and a release cam adapted to support the plunger and gravity check member in elevated position and to be progressively withdrawn from such supporting position by movement of the lock slide under the influence of the chronometer.

8. In combination a time lock casing having a vertical way therein and a transverse bore communicating with the Way, a gravity check member reciprocable in the way, a pin reciprocable in the bore and adapted to abut the gravity check member in certain positions of said check member, said check member having a bore therein adapted for registry with said pin, a lug extending into the way adapted to limit descent of the gravity check member so that the pin and the bore in said check member are aligned, externally operable means adapted to simultaneously move the pin out of the bore in the check and to lift the gravity check member to a position wherein the bore thereof is out of alignment with said pin, means to hold the gravity check means in said elevated position and chronometer actuated means to effect timed release of the holding means.

9. In a time lock, the combination of a casing having a Way therein open along one side, and having a bore communicating with the Way, a gravity urged check member reciprocable in the way and having a bore capable of alignment with said bores in the casing, means to raise the check member in the way, chronometer mechanism, means under the control of the chronometer mechanism to hold the check member in elevated position for a predetermined time interval and to thereafter release said check member, a second member under the control of the chronometer mechanism adapted to limit the descent of the check member to a position wherein the bores tion of a lock bolt.

10. In a time lock the combination of chronometer actuated means whereby time delay intervals of night season character are obtained by known winding operations of the chronometer, a bolt controllng slide plate, a knob for actuating said slide plate, and means actuatable by said knob in one direction to simultaneously move the slide plate to closed position, to impart a limited winding movement to the chronometer and to arrest unwinding movement of the chronometer, said means operating independently of the conditioning of the chronometer for night season time delay interval.

11. In a time lock the combination of a casing, an arbor adapted for manual operation through substantially of rotation, an apertured slide plate having a pin movable therewith for entry into the casing, a chronometer in the casing, a lock slide, means cooperating with the lock slide and chronometer for effecting movement of said lock slide by the unwinding operation of the chronometer and effecting winding of the chronometer by movement of the lock slide, a gravity check member guidedly supported for movement into and from the path of said pin, a telescopically 'yieldable plunger beneath the gravity check member, cam means normally urged to a position beneath said plunger and adapted to be positively moved from beneath the plunger by operation of the lock slide by said chronometer, and means on the arbor comprising an arm for operating the slide plate, a finger for lifting the plunger and gravity check and an eccentric cooperating with the finger and said lock slide whereby movement of the arbor in one direction automatically and simultaneously moves the slide plate to locking position, lifts the gravity check member and plunger to preclude movement of the pin and lock slide, turns the eccentric Whereby the lock slide effects limited Winding of the chronometer and stops operation of the chronometer in such Wound condition and permits the cam means to assume a supporting position beneath the plunger, retractive movement of the arbor serving to return the finger and eccentric to initial position whereupon the lock slide is released to slow movement by the chronometer for effecting predetermined movement of the cam means from supporting position beneath the plunger.

12. In combination a reciprocably mounted lock slide adapted for movement in one direction by the unwinding movement of chronometer mechanism, an eccentric adapted for manually controlled operation to move the lock slide in the opposite direction for winding the chronometer mechanism, a crank actuated cam operable by movement of the lock slide in the first mentioned direction, a vertically guided check member, a telescopic yieldable plunger disposed beneath the check member, a finger depending from; the plunger and having an arcuate face on one side edge thereof, the crank actuated cam normally urged to a position beneath the arcuate face of the finger, and means manually operable to efiect lifting of the plunger and check member and connected with the eccentric for simultaneously effecting movement of the lock slide whereby the chronometer is wound and the cam is released for movement beneath the finger.

13. In a time lock, the combination of a casing having a way therein open along one side, and having a bore communicating with the way, a gravity urged check member reciprocable in the way and having a bore capable of alignment with said bores in the casing, means to raise the check member in the way, chronometer mechanism, means under the control of the chronometer mechanism to hold the check member in elevated position for a pre-determined time interval and to thereafter release said check member, a second member under the control of the chronometer mechanism adapted to limit the descent of the check member to a position wherein the bores in the check member and easing are aligned, said second member being movable by said chronometer after a pre-determined time to again release the check member for further descent whereby said bores are dis-aligned, a lug member selectively adjustable to positions respectively in the path of the check member and out of the path of the check member whereby the last mentioned release of the check member is selectively precluded and-permitted, and a pin for movement in said bores and adapted to control operation of a lock bolt.

WILLIAM T. BENHAM. 

